Trump Gives Iran Final Warning, Imposes Tuesday Cut-Off Amid Ongoing Impasse

US President Donald Trump appeared to grant Iran a 24-hour reprieve, pushing back his deadline for a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to Tuesday at 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time, as announced on his Truth Social platform.

n

This new timeline, equivalent to 0000 GMT Wednesday, affords Tehran an additional day to placate the US leader or risk facing devastating attacks on its infrastructure, including power plants and bridges.

n

Iran has been blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for global oil and gas, since the US-Israeli bombing campaign began on February 28.

n

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump seemed to confirm the revised deadline, stating that the US holds a strong position and that Iran would take 20 years to rebuild if it were lucky.

n

Trump warned that if Iran fails to take action by Tuesday evening, the country would be left without power plants or standing bridges, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

n

Following the dramatic rescue of a US airman, Trump conducted a series of brief interviews with media outlets, during which he issued a stern ultimatum to Iran, threatening a fierce US attack if the strategic waterway is not freed up.

n

In a conversation with Fox News, Trump expressed optimism about reaching a deal with Iran on Monday, stating that there is a "good chance" of an agreement and that Iranian negotiators are currently engaged in talks.

n

Trump also told Fox News that he is considering drastic measures, including taking over the oil, if a deal is not reached quickly, and revealed that he had granted Iranian negotiators "immunity from death".

n

Additionally, Trump claimed that Tehran has conceded it will not pursue the development of nuclear weapons, calling this point "so easy" and stating that most points of contention have already been conceded.

n

In an interview with ABC News, Trump predicted that the conflict would be resolved "in days, not weeks", but warned that without an agreement, the US would consider few options off-limits in terms of its response.

n

Trump also disclosed that the US had attempted to send weapons to Iranian protesters opposing the cleric-run government via Kurdish intermediaries, taking advantage of the unrest that erupted in December over the high cost of living.

n

These demonstrations eventually escalated into anti-government protests, which were violently suppressed, with Trump claiming that "we sent guns to the protesters, a lot of them" and speculating that the Kurds had taken possession of the weapons.

n

However, a top official in Iraqi Kurdistan, Qubad Talabani, stated in a late-February interview with AFP that Washington had not provided arms to Iranian Kurdish opposition groups exiled in the autonomous region.